Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride

Welcome to my Political Decoder blog. I've been thinking about doing this for some time but undertaking it is your fault. It was reader reaction to a recent story that ultimately pushed me to this insanity. The story ("The dark underside of 'Oprah's Big Give' ") prompted about 100 readers to write to me and, while it was tremendously gratifying to know I'm being read, it took the whole weekend to respond to everyone. A blog, I thought, there's the ticket. Readers would be able to see comments by other readers and I wouldn't have to spend summer weekends hunched over my laptop. Besides, being part of a community is the point of the Toronto Star website with its blogs. So, if you feel so inclined, post a comment. Or not. Just remember: be nice.

Writing the Oprah piece made me reflect on things Canadian and, given that I'm national affairs writer, this blog will be "as Canadian as possible under the circumstances." (That line, legend has it, won a Star contest to complete the fragment, "As Canadian as. . . ") Under what circumstances? Dunno. Whatever moves me.

Like other bloggers, I have categories, but I see these as rough guidelines and have every intention of colouring outside the lines. Don't rely on me to get you to Flin Flon by Family Day. "FreeTrade Fridays" could be Tuesdays; "The Downside" could turn into one big giggle.

Like Bette  D. on party night (with her would-be successor baring her teeth in the parlour) I promise to give it as bumpy a go as I know how. Enjoy yourselves and, for me, hope for the best. As the old chief says in Little Big Man : "Sometimes the magic works and sometimes it doesn't." 

I'll offer my first official post later today (can't say much except it's an exclusive, very, very exciting) but for now, I'll slip you an amuse-bouche to tide you over.

(With a nod to the great Joe Martin, let's call it,

UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT:

Yes, yes, the City of Toronto is rolling along with its new bin program. Lucky, lucky us. The smallest blue recycling bin takes the equivalent of one of the old blue boxes, while the small grey garbage bin takes one bag.

But get this. According to the City, "the bin design requires a false bottom to maintain the height required for automated collection." That's for the smallest bins.

Now, there's "truthiness" for you.

I could be wrong, but it sure looks to me like the false bottoms are there for a different purpose entirely: to prevent residents from stuffing in more gum wrappers or orange peels than officially mandated for a particular small bin, before moving up to the next bin in size - and price - like obedient citizens. The medium blue bin takes two of the old blue boxes and the medium grey takes a bag and a half of garbage.

Who comes up with such deviousness?  More money from taxpayers and, for landfills of the future, lots and lots and lots more plastic.

Now there's green thinking to make us all proud.

Check it out for yourselves at the City's site - and weep.

Comments

[Ed Berlot]

Being a single person who throws out maybe a Bag or 2 a month I figured the small bin would suffice. My local mall had a display of the bins on the long weekend , and lo and behold the "small" bin (if lucky) will hold half a bag.

The city has been misleading everyone by displaying outside dimensions instead of volume. How do you define the size of a bag? Is a bag a kitchen catcher bag? Or how about a large Contractor bag? Suggesting its similar to one of the older blue/grey bins tell us nothing either.

This is nothing but another blatant tax grab by the free spending Millerites

[pogge]

Welcome to blogtopia.

Personally I've dealt with categories by never implementing them. It's kept things much simpler.